Victor Targets Starts

Victor Anichebe set his sights on a regular starting place with Everton after turning super sub again in the draw at Wigan.

The Nigerian international first showed his ability to impact games from the bench during the Blues’ Europa League campaign of 2007/08, and this season has entered the action to secure draws at Wigan and Villa and a win at West Brom.

The Academy product has had an injury-hit couple of seasons and probably would have made considerably more starts had that not been the case.

At the moment manager David Moyes is handling the 23-year-old with extreme care as he bids to help him regain full match fitness and replenish his durability.

Anichebe told evertontv: “I tried to rubbish that super-sub tag from the Europa League a few years back but it seems to be following me round!

“Hopefully I can start a few more games soon. The manager keeps putting me in and then taking me out and just trying to help me really. Obviously I have had the injuries and I hadn’t trained for a few days before Wigan so it is important to be careful.”

As for his leveller – expertly headed beyond the grasp of Wigan keeper Ali Al Habsi – Anichebe was quick to praise the quality of Leighton Baines’ assist.

“People were saying ‘nice header’ to me in the dressing room, but I didn’t have to do a lot,” he added. “The quality of the cross made the goal. I just had to get something on it. I always try and thank whoever crosses the ball and this time it was Bainesy. It was a great cross and it was that which made the goal possible.”

Anichebe continued: “It was a tough game. It was a really bad pitch and I think it was always going to be tough after Tuesday night. The lads put a lot of effort into beating City and Wigan are fighting for their lives and play some good football. We would have liked to have won, but given that we didn’t it was important that we didn’t lose.”